Lipscomb’s – my helpful and reliable Volvo dealer Twice this week I’ve experienced minor problems – a wheel nut disappeared, and then a mysterious knocking sound could be heard when cornering left. Each time I phoned the Service Team, went to the service bay and was sorted – same day. A single wheel nut was found, the knocking was traced to a water reservoir that had come loose – and each time I enquired ‘How much doI owe, and each time the Team said – 'nothing – you are a valued customer – nothing, that’s fine'. I have been a customer since the early 80’s – you can see why! Thank you Adam, Mike and the Service Team at Lipscomb’s Canterbury

Appalling customer care. After the rear window of my fiat 500 becoming loose. I returned to Fiat expecting them to fix the problem as a rear window shouldn’t just become unfixed for no reason. So clearly a manufacturing fault. Their response was to tell me I had to pay for the repair and that I would need to contact their customer care team if I wanted to take it further regards a refund. What Fiat don’t tell you when you buy a car from them. (Or two in our case) that you have to contact Fiat in Italy for any customer care problems. Yes Italy!! I don’t know where to being. Their automated phone system is awful, you struggle to hear the options. When I got to speak to someone they were hard to understand. They said they would raise an enquiry and I had to call back on the morning of taking my car in. Which I did. I had to explain everything once again to be told someone would get back to me in 48 hrs. But what do I do about payment today? They couldn’t answer this. When I collected my car I way informed I would have to pay and Fiat would reimburse me. But I’m stood in a Fist dealership. Ridiculous is an understatement. When I am contacted by Fiat (Italy) I am told they do NOT refund customers. They give a goodwill gesture to the amount in stead, which can go against a service or extras. What the service that is £150 more than other reputable garages I can go to?? So I’m still out of pocket. The battle continued until two weeks later Fiat (Italy) agree they will reimburse. But they have to refund Lipscomb who then refund me. Is it me or is this complete madness. So a month later and I am still having to chase. Lipscomb have not returned my calls on two occasions. So I go into the dealership in person. We are dealing with it! I would disagree. Nine days later still no contact from them. The only contact I’ve had from Lispsomb has been when they have called to try and get me to book both mine and my sons Fiat in for services. Today after a frank discussion with their service manager and threatening to take both cars back. I have been told I have been refunded but yet to confirm the transaction on my credit card. I can’t believe this ridiculous customer care situation. When do you have to go to the country of the manufacture as opposed to the company you have purchased from. Potential Fiat buyers be aware it is making me rethink the make of my next car after this appalling and frankly ridiculous service.

Absolutely disgusting service from this dealership! After purchasing my vehicle in October 2022 its been back into this garage 4 times and yet they still cant solve the issue, The service iv received from them is awful, They cant do their job correctly and continually lie to their customers! The manager doesn't seem to care about anything, whenever I call and request to speak to him he is always busy, meanwhile the receptions seem to think they know it all...They take your money, promise you a years warranty but yet they don't deliver!!

Shocking communication ! My brand new car stopped working 2 months in , 2 starter motors ( apparently !) then a new engine . Alfa Aylesford Maidstone absolutely useless . How does this business survive . Seeking compensation currently

My car had been in for repairs for 5 weeks, parts coming from Italy with no knowledge of when they will arrive. How can a business survive like that not knowing when essential parts will arrive. Communication very poor. My first and last car from this dealer.

So a year ago I took out a service plan for two Fiat cars, mine and my wife’s. First service we encounter issues, my car a week after the service gets the engine light on, I check the stick guess what it’s low! I call them up, they tell me this service was a visual only… ironic as they tick the box to say oil change! So I ask what was done and I was advised it’s only a visual and all levels are correct so nothing! Expensive trip. Second trip my wife’s car, this time I’m vigilant and check everything…. But this time we get a knocking sound, we call 5 times asking for the service log so we know what’s done.. nothing! Then they say bring the car back in.. well they say the knocking is a mount and they noted it on the service report…? Ok please provide the report… sorry sir we lost is?????? Something smells funny! Anyway engine mount c.£300! So I call Fiat direct, they say just to let you know sir your car has extended warranty until the end of 2023 so should be covered? So why is the garage telling me I don’t. Prior to sending it back in I decide to carry out a once over on the car, engine fluid low, spark plugs not been changed oil dirty certainly not new - so I advise them. This time they advise again similar story… we noted this down on the service you have a leak and requires further investigation!!!!! I then get a service log with this all on it but not before, I had 1 spark plug changed under the service that was it - What cowboys! Now it’s my time for my service, second on the plan - last time was a visual inspection, I advised the car is struggling to start probably needs new plugs defiantly needs an oil change as the lights have been on for a year and I had to top the oil up - when I got given the car I got told no this service was just an inspection to tighten everything up! My engine fluid is below the minimum line but not recorded - in a nut shell your paying a premium for a stamp because they don’t do anything done to the car! the final topping they tell my wife she needs to use the third service before the years up by a considerable amount otherwise she loses it?????? Have you ever checked what you had done? Put a dot on the spark plugs, check the fluid before it goes in? As I promise these guys are robbing you and not doing anything. All round I feel robbed and though my car is not getting the treatment it deserves to get the best out of it! Worse car experience I think I’ve ever had.

It's a shame there isn't an option for zero - as my experience over the last 10 days isn't worthy of anything higher. I ordered an 18 month old VolvoV90CC from Lipscomb Canterbury with a towbar, and having checked a couple of times the week prior to collection that all was ok for the scheduled collection date (and being assured there was no problem) I sold my previous car privately. I then find out late afternoon on the day before collection that there is an issue with the towbar(the trailer module is on backorder-with no eta for delivery) As I was then without a car, moving the date back was not an option so we made the 280 mile found trip to Canterbury to collect the car. On the day of collection, the salesman (Sam) suggested that sending the module to a local dealer to finish the job would be an option to avoid us having to make another round trip of 280 miles. The good news is that they do now have a trailer module available from another customers order,but the ONLY way to finish the job (That they started without having all of the required parts available!!) and which they have only half completed is for the car to go all the way back to them again.. The module cannot be sent to another Volvo dealer closer to home after all as they have started the job. If this is indeed true, why on earth start a job that you don't have all of the parts for when you know the customer lives so far away??? It cannot be finished at my home address either apparently... Whether this is all true, or is just an excuse so that Lipscomb are not inconvenienced whilst finishing the job, I don't know... But - I can only go by what I've been told, so will have to assume this is correct. Over the last week or more, a few emails have been ignored. and phone calls not returned. So - the saga continues... I'm sure this is not typical Volvo customer service, but right now I'm really wishing I'd stayed with Mercedes as my recent dealings have been far from positive. I will of course provide a further review if there is any positive news on the outcome of completing this half-finished job (which has of course already been paid for in full) as I'm nothing if not fair..... Before I forget, I'm also waiting for a refund of the 2 year service plan that I bought with the car, only to find that it is already covered by a service plan from the previous owner that still has a further 18 months to run.. Maybe that can only be refunded via a drive back to Canterbury too? To be continued........... UPDATE: I'm pleased to report that the nonsense about not being able to fit the towbar module anywhere other than at their workshop in Canterbury was indeed totally untrue - as I suspected. Lipscom have very kindly sent out a technician to my home address and it has been fitted on my driveway today and the software updated too. The refund for the service plan has also now been made after the 4th request. A big thanks to Sales Controller Michael Gillmore for finally getting involved and acting swiftly to rectify an issue that should never have happened in the first instance... Not the 'new car experience' I was looking forward to, but we got there eventually..

Always had great service from Shaun, he had moved now but the guys are still great. Adam, Mark and the service team are so helpful. Thank you guys, Ali, Gem & The Family

I Traded in my PRISTINE Competizione for the Esseesse Model. On Collection of the Esseesse I was very disappointed to find a scuff on the rear quarter which was not there on viewing, also the car had not had a full valet/clean ( apart from tyre black) On getting the car home I noticed more quality issues, The passenger front wheel had been curbed, water mark on the driver seat, scuffs/scratches inside. Returned the car for improvements to be carried out. Now the car had been cleaned and on getting home I found the other 3 wheels had scuffs and scratches, the seat mark was still visible. I decided after the drivers door started rattling, the heat shield underneath rattling/buzzing and chips in the windscreen to return the car after only 12 days. Emails and photos were sent to Lipscomb throughout the 12 days, they knew I was not happy and wanted my PX back. On the morning that I was returning the car they called me to say "they had sold my car" They offered me a lift to the station or back to work. So I was left with no car and no money. It was only when I contacted citizen advice and wrote a letter of complaint did Lipscomb contact me with an offer over a week later! They would give me a run around on provision that I still buy the car after it had been in their workshop. I declined. After many many years of being a "valued customer" buying 4 new vehicles and 2 used plus servicing, I felt let down. Why wasn't the car fully examined and valeted before sale? Why wasn't I told they sold my car the day after I collected the new one? Why leave it till the day I was returning the car and left me high and dry? All along I have been the bad guy in all of this, because I refused to accept a car with many quality issues. Even with a letter to the after sales director I have not heard a thing. I did get my money back eventually though. My advice if you buy from Lipscomb. Get them to fully valet/clean BEFORE you view. Examine well and test drive, Get them to fix any quality issues BEFORE you part with your PX or hard earned cash! Will never use again.

Excellent service particularly from Michael in sales. Could not be more helpful and professional, highly recommended.